COAD Region Spring 2013 Head Start Summit March 22, 2013

Information on Preschoolers Young children are being expelled from child care settings at 3 x the rate than children K through 12 (Walter Gilliam, Yale). Preschool teachers and child care providers report that disruptive behavior is the single greatest challenge they face. (Arnold, D.H.;McWilliams, l.; & Arnold, E.H.) “The kids are sad, mad and bad, it’s not that they can’t add”

(From the National Center for Children in Poverty article by Raver & Knitzer) Social and Emotional Competence and School Readiness Young children who act in anti-social ways are provided with less instruction and less positive feedback, they tend to like school less, learn less and attend less These children are at greater risk of dropping out and engaging in delinquent acts Across studies, the social and emotional competence of young children predicts their academic performance in 1 st grade, OVER and above their cognitive skills and family background!

Forty-six percent of kindergarten teachers said that half their class had specific problems in basic social and emotional development Children who have poor academic achievement early on are at risk for delinquent and antisocial behavior Risk and protective factors need to be identified early, and interventions should target both Challenges Facing Young Children

The most prevalent psychosocial risk factors are: Poverty (1 in 4 children are born poor) Quality of early attachments Parental depression (1 in 10 women experience postpartum depression) Parental substance abuse (the majority of parents with children in child protective services have problems with alcohol and drugs) Challenges Facing Young Children

Divorce (1 in 60 children sees their parents divorce each year) Inconsistent or harsh parenting (3 million children are maltreated each year) Exposure to domestic violence (1 million incidents of intimate partner violence in 1998) Exposure to community violence (40 to 60 percent of urban youth reported seeing a shooting) Challenges Facing Young Children

What is Challenging Behavior?

Defining “Challenging Behavior” Challenging Behavior has three components: interferes with children’s learning, development and successful play. is harmful to the child, other children or adults. puts a child at high risk for later social problems or school failure.

Head Start Survey 2012 SFY 2007 Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program Report SFY 2006 Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program Report Hitting1) aggression and anger issues1) aggression (hitting, kicking) Defiance 2) typical development of children, behavioral and emotional development and developmental delays in young children 2) self-regulation/tantrums/out of control behaviors/impulse control Physical aggression 3) noncompliance to the directives of teachers and parents as well as working with oppositional children 3) not following directives of teachers/parents/noncompliance/working with oppositional children Biting 4) inattentiveness and ADHD symptoms and identification 4) typical development of children/behavioral & emotional/developmental delays Tantrums 5) adjustment to traumatic life events (death, divorce, removal from home for abuse/neglect) 5) behavior issues in early childhood setting/biting/acting out at transitions/out of control Acting out non-aggressively 6) self-regulation, tantrums, impulse control and out of control behaviors 6) peer social skill problem/social skills training Non-Compliance 7) behavior problems in early childhood settings such as biting, acting out at transition times, and verbal and physical aggression 7) high activity level (hyperactivity) Unable to self-regulate 8) peer social skill problems and social skills training 8) engaging parents/ communication Overly active 9) engaging parents and family communication patterns 9) classroom management/structure Lacks self-control10) mood, anxiety, depression, and withdrawal10) adjustment to an event (death, divorce, removal from home for abuse/neglect issues

A Major Key to Helping Any Child with Challenging Behaviors is… A trusting, reflective relationship: - open-mindedness -whole-heartedness -responsibility (John Dewey, How We Think)

Some challenging behaviors are a typical part of development

A Decision Making Model Step 1: Focus your attention Step 2: Factor in Development Step 3: Consider Context Step 4: Identify Problem Ownership Step 5: Match Strategy to Development Step 6: Match Strategy to Situation Step 7: Implement and Evaluate Step 8: Refer, If Necessary Adapted from Marion, M.(2007). Guidance of Young Children Page 7 of SE Field Guide

Early Childhood Mental Health Resources and Tools to Support Social and Emotional Development WEBSITES TOOLS DVDs and CDs BOOKS PUBLICATIONS and ARTICLES Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Resources

Guiding Young Children’s Behavior by Supporting Social and Emotional Development: A Core Knowledge Early Childhood Field Guide –Overview –Professional Development –Observation and Assessment –Learning Environments and Experiences –Family and Community Relations –Child Growth and Development –The Administrators Role

Other Considerations Classroom environment Transitions Temperament (Goodness of Fit) Observations Teacher experience Relational Presence/poverty Rhythm, music and movement

Effects on teachers stress (15) frustration (4) burnout (4) workers comp claims (3) injury (3) discouragement (3) tired (3) failure (2) disrespect (1) lack of patience (1) exhaustion (1) change positions/relocate staff (1)

Strengthening our own Protective Factors How full is your pitcher?

Developed for COAD Region Spring 2013 Head Start Summit Created by Marla Himmeger